IN YOUR OPINION

Letters to the Editor for Sept. 11, 2013

Published: Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at 8:56 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at 8:56 p.m.

A different strategy

What is the upside? This is just one question we have to ask: Should we choose to take another military adventure into a Middle Eastern country?

Are the Syrian people going to regard us as “liberators”? Are we going to destroy every vestige of chemical weapons? If we topple the Assad regime, are the pro-al Qaeda and Hezbollah “rebels” going to take control? Is it possible that these rebels released the gas just to draw us in? We do know that nothing encourages extremists like a Western power attacking another Muslim country. By attacking, would we be putting Israel at an even greater risk of retaliation?

For me, these are questions that have not been honestly answered by politicians. I have an idea. How about if we unleash the Corps of Engineers and launch a major humanitarian relief effort for the refugees driven from their homes. We could drill water wells and build structures to distribute food and water. We could give out hard candy to the children. It would be a chance to show that America is about more then punishing our enemy. We could actually build some good will with real Syrians in need. This would also take some pressure off our allies in Jordan and Turkey.

If there was ever a time to get straight answers and hold our representatives responsible for their vote on this subject, it is now!

Emmett J. Solomon

Fort McCoy

The forest vote

I recently learned that although 10 percent of Marion County voters live in communities in or near the Ocala National Forest, they are not well-represented when it comes to voting. Most of us forest dwellers cherish our rural way of life and voting is a way to preserve what we care about.

On Saturday, Sept. 21, our supervisor of elections, Wesley Wilcox, will address issues about voting and answer questions many of us have about voting and elections. He will be on hand from 2-3 p.m. at the Forest Community Center.

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, will be on hand to register voters and distribute precinct information.

The Forest Community Center is located on County Road 314A, just south of State Road 40 and behind the Winn-Dixie Forest shopping center.

Come on, forest residents, your vote counts!

Mary L. Thomas

Fort McCoy

Sheriff’s budget

Are we living in Marion County or Mayberry? Our Sheriff’s Office needs to be updated with newer patrol cars, more manpower and approved overtime when needed. If our officials don’t believe we need to increase the sheriff’s budget, maybe we need Sheriff Taylor, Deputy Barney Fife and his one-bullet and one-patrol car to patrol only the County Commission’s neighborhoods and let the rest of us fend for ourselves. Then there will be more “stand your ground” cases in the courts.

I can envision most homes with weapons and people who don’t know how to use them. I have mine, I’ve been trained, and I have a carry permit. How many people carry theirs because they can but don’t have a valid carry permit?

Please approve Sheriff Blair’s budget so the commission can get on with other business.

Howard Kletter

Ocala

Support our sheriff

Almost one year ago thousands and thousands of us voted for Chris Blair to be our next sheriff. We believed in him and the goals that he wanted to accomplish within the community and the Sheriff’s Office. Where have we been since then?

There have been more citizens at the County Commission meetings speaking out for adopting a no-tethering ordinance for dogs than there has been in support of Sheriff Blair’s budget to protect us all. Chris Blair ran for sheriff because he wanted to make a difference in the community and the Sheriff’s Office. Chris Blair IS sheriff because WE voted him in. Let’s show the commissioners that we still support Sheriff Blair.

You can always write, email, call or attend a County Commission meeting and speak during public comments. The next meeting is Thursday, Sept. 12, at 6 p.m. in the McPherson Auditorium. Please show up to support OUR sheriff.

J. Lynn Ball

Ocala

Leadership missing

Does anyone remember Benghazi?

Happened on 9/11.

Well, get ready for 9/11/2013.

We need an American leader now.

President Obama said al Qaeda was finished. Right!

This president and administration have no capability or desire to protect our embassies against Islamic extremists, let alone any American citizen in any country, especially the Middle East

It is time to protect ourselves and our own people or stay home.

No one is willing to admit we are in a very serious war against Islam.

The stated goals of the Islamic extremists are the takeover the world and the installation of Sharia law worldwide.

Many say that the Islamic extremists are in the minority. However, I do not agree because the “majority” of Muslims, reportedly “moderate,” say nothing and do nothing to stop or eliminate the extremists.

We are alone against Islam. Europe is already lost. Britain is lost. We are next.

It is long past time for a leader to step up for America. Mr. Obama has shown he is unable to deal with not only our economy but also international relations.

Syria is a good example. Mr. Obama draws a “red line” with not a thought about what happens when your adversary crosses the line. Mr. Obama has dug this hole entirely by himself.

I would support impeachment as the best possibility today so we can get America moving again.

<p><b>A different strategy</b></p><p>What is the upside? This is just one question we have to ask: Should we choose to take another military adventure into a Middle Eastern country?</p><p>Are the Syrian people going to regard us as “liberators”? Are we going to destroy every vestige of chemical weapons? If we topple the Assad regime, are the pro-al Qaeda and Hezbollah “rebels” going to take control? Is it possible that these rebels released the gas just to draw us in? We do know that nothing encourages extremists like a Western power attacking another Muslim country. By attacking, would we be putting Israel at an even greater risk of retaliation?</p><p>For me, these are questions that have not been honestly answered by politicians. I have an idea. How about if we unleash the Corps of Engineers and launch a major humanitarian relief effort for the refugees driven from their homes. We could drill water wells and build structures to distribute food and water. We could give out hard candy to the children. It would be a chance to show that America is about more then punishing our enemy. We could actually build some good will with real Syrians in need. This would also take some pressure off our allies in Jordan and Turkey.</p><p>If there was ever a time to get straight answers and hold our representatives responsible for their vote on this subject, it is now!</p><p><i>Emmett J. Solomon</p><p>Fort McCoy</i></p><p><b>The forest vote</b></p><p>I recently learned that although 10 percent of Marion County voters live in communities in or near the Ocala National Forest, they are not well-represented when it comes to voting. Most of us forest dwellers cherish our rural way of life and voting is a way to preserve what we care about.</p><p>On Saturday, Sept. 21, our supervisor of elections, Wesley Wilcox, will address issues about voting and answer questions many of us have about voting and elections. He will be on hand from 2-3 p.m. at the Forest Community Center.</p><p>The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, will be on hand to register voters and distribute precinct information.</p><p>The Forest Community Center is located on County Road 314A, just south of State Road 40 and behind the Winn-Dixie Forest shopping center.</p><p>Come on, forest residents, your vote counts!</p><p><i>Mary L. Thomas</p><p>Fort McCoy</i></p><p><b>Sheriff's budget</b></p><p>Are we living in Marion County or Mayberry? Our Sheriff's Office needs to be updated with newer patrol cars, more manpower and approved overtime when needed. If our officials don't believe we need to increase the sheriff's budget, maybe we need Sheriff Taylor, Deputy Barney Fife and his one-bullet and one-patrol car to patrol only the County Commission's neighborhoods and let the rest of us fend for ourselves. Then there will be more “stand your ground” cases in the courts.</p><p>I can envision most homes with weapons and people who don't know how to use them. I have mine, I've been trained, and I have a carry permit. How many people carry theirs because they can but don't have a valid carry permit?</p><p>Please approve Sheriff Blair's budget so the commission can get on with other business.</p><p><i>Howard Kletter</p><p>Ocala</i></p><p><b>Support our sheriff</b></p><p>Almost one year ago thousands and thousands of us voted for Chris Blair to be our next sheriff. We believed in him and the goals that he wanted to accomplish within the community and the Sheriff's Office. Where have we been since then?</p><p>There have been more citizens at the County Commission meetings speaking out for adopting a no-tethering ordinance for dogs than there has been in support of Sheriff Blair's budget to protect us all. Chris Blair ran for sheriff because he wanted to make a difference in the community and the Sheriff's Office. Chris Blair IS sheriff because WE voted him in. Let's show the commissioners that we still support Sheriff Blair.</p><p>You can always write, email, call or attend a County Commission meeting and speak during public comments. The next meeting is Thursday, Sept. 12, at 6 p.m. in the McPherson Auditorium. Please show up to support OUR sheriff.</p><p><i>J. Lynn Ball</p><p>Ocala</i></p><p><b>Leadership missing</b></p><p>Does anyone remember Benghazi?</p><p>Happened on 9/11.</p><p>Well, get ready for 9/11/2013.</p><p>We need an American leader now.</p><p>President Obama said al Qaeda was finished. Right!</p><p>This president and administration have no capability or desire to protect our embassies against Islamic extremists, let alone any American citizen in any country, especially the Middle East</p><p>It is time to protect ourselves and our own people or stay home.</p><p>No one is willing to admit we are in a very serious war against Islam.</p><p>The stated goals of the Islamic extremists are the takeover the world and the installation of Sharia law worldwide.</p><p>Many say that the Islamic extremists are in the minority. However, I do not agree because the “majority” of Muslims, reportedly “moderate,” say nothing and do nothing to stop or eliminate the extremists.</p><p>We are alone against Islam. Europe is already lost. Britain is lost. We are next.</p><p>It is long past time for a leader to step up for America. Mr. Obama has shown he is unable to deal with not only our economy but also international relations.</p><p>Syria is a good example. Mr. Obama draws a “red line” with not a thought about what happens when your adversary crosses the line. Mr. Obama has dug this hole entirely by himself.</p><p>I would support impeachment as the best possibility today so we can get America moving again.</p><p><i>William Francis</p><p>Summerfield</i></p>